Ornament for christmas trees or the like



May 6, 1924. 1,493,260 G. E. GRIMM ORNAMENT FOR CHRISTMAS TREES OR THE LIKE Fil ed Jan. 5, 1522 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 7/ ignvemtoz fl f'rfmrdz" y. Grim/2n,

WW 5 MW May 6 I924. I 1,493,260

- (3.5. GRIMM ORNAMENT FOR CHRISTMAS TREES on Tim LTKE Filed Jan. 5 1.922 2 Sheets-sheet 2 awuemfoz fierhardifi. 66 m Patented May 6, 1924. v H p v p UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GERHARDT E. GRIMM, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ORNAMENT FOR CHRISTMAS TREES OR THE LIKE.

Application filed January 3, 1922. Serial No. 526,749.

To all whom it may concern: on successive Christmas holidays. To pro- Be it known that I, GERHARDT E. GRIMM, vide or produce a Christmas tree ornament a citizen of the United States, and resident in which are embodied the advantageous of New York city, in the county of New features of display with the display features York and State of New York, have invented rendered in many respects more attractive, 5

certain new and useful Improvements in and in which the aforementioned disadvan- Ornaments for Christmas Trees or the like, tages incident to the manufacture, sale and of which the following is a specification. use of the glass ornaments are successfully This invention relates to a pendant ornaeliminated, constitutes a prime desideratum ment and more particularly to a pendant orof my present invention. 60 nament for use as a Christmas tree decora- The principal objects of my present intion or the like; and has special reference vention may be said to include the provision to the provision of an ornament of this of a pendent ornament adapted for Christnature which combines the features of low mas tree decorations or the like, which may cost of production, efficient and low cost be made to assume various three dimensional 65 of handling and marketing and unique 0011- forms and which ornaments may be colvenience in use and re-use and which forms lapsed to be packageable in small confines, an attractive, highly pleasing, variegated one form of my invention contemplating Christmas tree display unit. the collapsibility of the ornament to a sub- Among the various forms of Christmas stantially two dimensional or flat condition, 70 tree ornaments suggested previously and in rendering the same subject to inexpensive use at the present time, the form most compacking operations, cheap transportation monly marketed and used is that comprising rates, convenient and inexpensive handling,

a vitreous shell or ball. As is well known marketing and storing and the further progreat care must be taken in the manufacture, vision of an ornament of the nature referred 75 packing, shipping and marketing of these to which may be produced at low cost and balls in view of the excessively fragile charwhich will provide a variegated, highly atacter of this type of ornament. These vitretractive ornamental display. ous ornaments must be packed with caution, To the accomplishment of the foregoing and where the ornaments are packed in and such other objects as may hereinafter so quantities as is usual, special containers or appear, my invention consists in the elecartons with separating compartments must ments and their relation one to the other, be utilized, in conjunction with shock abas hereinafter particularly described and sorbing packing material, the cost of packsought to be defined in the claims, reference aging being a factor reflected in the ultimate being had to the accompanying drawings 35 selling price of the product. These glass which show preferred emodiments thereof, balls consume, furthermore, considerable and in which: i space, with the result that shipping or trans- Figures 1 to 5 show one form of my inportation costs thereon are relatively large, vention, Figures 1 and 2 showing the orna 40 with the ultimate selling price of this comment in flat or collapsed condition, Figures modity enhanced thereby. These shells 3 and 4 showing the manner of moving the i must also be handled with considerable care parts of the ornament from collapsed to during the marketing thereof, the loss in open condition, andFigure 5 being a perbreakages being considerable during sale, spective view showing the ornament in 45 as is well known. In view of their fragile open position assuming a three dimencharacter, the ornaments are troublesome to sional configuration. handle during decorative use, the frailty Figures 6 and 7 are views of a modificaand size of the balls requiring, furthermore, tion of my invention, Figure 6 showing the careful and special storage when it is dcornament in collapsed condition and Flgure e0 sired to store the ornaments away for use 7 showing the same in open position,

Cir

Figures 8 and 9 are views of a still fur ther modification, Figure 8 being a view of the same in collapsed condition and Figure 9 being a view of the same in open condition, and

Figure 10 is a perspective View of a still further modification.

As here-inbefore referred to, a prime object of my present invention comprehends the provision of an ornament which may be made to assume a three din'iensional configuration when desired for decorative use and which may be collapsed to small confines and in some forms of my invention to a substantially two dimensional. condition when not in use, as during the marketing or storing period thereof. To this end my invention. contemplates a pendant ornament comprising a plurality of surface sections of a three dimensional object, the said surface sections being positionable or movable about a common axis to obtain a three dimensional configuration such as a sphere or an ellipsoid, for example, the surface sections being movable from such positions to collapsed condition. Referring now to Figures 1 to 5 of the drawings, which show one form my invention maytake, the ornament comprises a plurality of surface sections 11, 12, 13, 1 1, 15 and 16, the said sections in the present exemplitication of my invention be ing fashioned or cut substantially in the form of lunes of a sphere. The sections or lunes .11 to 16 are made of'a flexible material such as relatively heavy paper, paper board or the like, the same being capable of being flexed and moved from a collapsed condition as shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, to an opened condition as shown in Figure 5 of the drawings.

The surface sections 11 to 16 may be sold separately and connected together for-use by the decorator, it being preferred, however, that the surface sections be connected together and sold as a unit in vcondition ready to be set up or opened up by the decorator. To this end. each of the sections or lunes is provided with orificed lobe portions at the opposite ends thereof, lune 11 being provided. for example, with the lobe portions 11 and 11 the remaining lunes 12 to 16 inclusive being similarly provided with the lobe portions 12, 12 13 and 1 1 to 16 inclusive and through these orificed lobe portions is threaded a cord or string 17, the said string providing an axis about which the lune sections are movable, the said string 17 further providing means for suspending the ornament on some suitable I face sections 11 to 16 are adapted to be flexed in a manner as shown in Figure 3, as will appear further presently, and to the end of holding the surface sections in any de sired flexed position a resilient holding means 20 is provided, the said holding means comprising preferably a piece of soft rubber suitably orificed for receiving the string 17 and movable along the same, the said resilient holding means being effective when moved along string 17 for retaining the sections 11 to 16 in any flexed position.

Normally the parts of the ornament are arranged in the flat, as shown in Figures 1' and 2 of the drawings, with the lunes in overlying relation and the ornament is so packaged and sold. When it is desired to open the ornament and condition the same for decorative use, the string 17 is taken hold of at its suspending end and the soft rubber holding means 20 is moved along the string, causing the lunes to assume the flexed positions as shown in Figure 3 of the drawings. The lunes or surface sections 11 to 16 are then separated and moved to spaced positions about the axis defined by the string 17 and to the end of facilitating movementof the surface sections, each surface section is provided preferably with a pulling tab such as 21. Figure 41 of the drawings shows the innermost surface section being withdrawn from the other surface sections in the process of opening the ornament. All the surface sections 11 to 16 are then moved in their relatively spaced positions until the ornament assumes, for example, a spherical form, as shown in perspective in Figure 5 of the drawings. If it is desired to form an ellipsoidal or oval configuration instead of a spherical configuration, any number less than the full number of lunes may be opened up as, for example, four or flve lunes, the holding member 20 being moved along the string 17 to effect a lesser degree of flexing of the lunes, the shape of the three dimensional object being varied in this manner.

For the purpose of providing a colored and a variegated ornament, the surface sections 11 to 16 are preferably .faced with colored metal foil and the various faces preferably differently colored. These sections 11 to 16 may be faced with metal foil of the following colors respectively: red, blue, yellow, green, yellow, purple. Adjacent sections are preferably differently colored as indicated, this construction providing a highly pleasing, variegated ornament when the same is 'rotatably suspended on a support by means of the string 17 Referring now to Figures 6 and 7 of the drawings, I show another form my invention may take, this form of my invention contemplating the provision of concentrically arranged members comprising inner and outer sections. In this form of my invention instead of providing the surface sections in the form of lunes, 1 preferably ill make opposite lunes integral so that the same may assume a ring or hooped shaped condition. To this end, as shown'in Figures '6 and 7, the inner section is provided with concentric hoop members 21 and 22 and the outer section with concentric hoop members 23 and 24 respectively, each hoop member comprising opposed lune sections, as clearly appears in Figure 7 of the drawings. The inner hoop members are connected together preferably by means of the eyelets 25 and 26, the outer hoop members being connected together by the eyelets 27 and 28, the inner and outer hoop members being relatively concentrically spaced by means of the spacing tubes 29 and 30, all the parts being secured together by means of the securing strings 31 and 32 respectively, suitably knotted at opposite ends, and held in position by means of suitable washers 33. The string 31 preferably forms the suspending element for the ornament; The hoop members may be suitably colored as in the other form of my invention, this being particularly shown in Figure 7 of the drawings. Figure 6 shows the arrangement of the parts in collapsed condition, the hoops being here shown in overlying relationship and collapsed to relatively small confines. When it is desired to open the ornament, the outer and inner hoops are moved to spaced positions in planes normal to each other, as clearly shown in Figure 7. In this form of my invention, although the surface sections are not collapsible to the flat as in the form shown in Figures 1 to 5, the hoop members may be moved to opened position with somewhat greater facility.

Referring now to, Figures 8 and 9 of the drawings, I show a still further modification of the invention in which the surface sections also comprise concentric hoop members 34,35 and 36 provided with colored metallic foil faces to effect a variegated orna- 'ment, the said hoop members comprising opposite lune portions collapsible to hooped condition, as shown in Figure 8 of the drawings, and movable to open condition as shown 1n Figure 9 of the drawings. In this form of my lnvention the hoop members may be connected together at their opposite ends by means of the eyelets 37 and 38, through which is threaded the string 39 forming the axis of the suspending element,

suitable holding members made of soft rubber or the, like such as 40 and 41 being provided for holding the hoops in proper ring shape condition.

In Figure 10 of the drawings I show a further modification of my invention in which the surface sections are provided with transparent portions forming windows. To this end each of the sections such as 11 12 13, 14 15 and 16 is provided withornamental transparent windows 42, which may detailed description thereof. In each form of my inventionthe ornament may be collapsed. to small confines and 111 the form shown in Figures 1 to 5 thesame may becollapsed to assume a condition in the'flat and 111 such collapsed condition the ornament may be packed at low cost without the necessity of exercising any undue care, the ornament being non-breakable and occupying very little spaceand being thus ca pable of being shipped, and mailed if desired, at low cost. The ornament may be marketed without the exerciseof the caution and care as is the case in prior ornaments of this kind; andthe ornament may be sold in bulk in a very convenient man ner. user merely separates or opens up the surface sections and the ornament will-assume the three dimensional configurations shown in Figures 5, 7, 9 and 10 of the drawlngs. When the ornament is suspended on a Christmas tree or other structure, a variegated display which is highly pleasing to the observer is provided, At the end of the holiday season the ornaments maybe re moved and the parts collapsed and stored in collapsed condition until the next Christmas holiday. The ornament may be made in any of a variety of forms to assume any desired configuration of a three dimensional object and may be sold suitable to the taste of the dealer and the purchaser.

WVhile I have shown my device in the preferred forms, it will be obvious that many changes and modifications may be made in the structure disclosed without departing from'the spirit of the invention, defined in the following claims.

I claim: w

1. A new article of manufacture foruse as a Christmas tree decoration or the like When desired for decorative use the.

comprising an ornament including a phi rality of surface sections, meansconnecting said sections to permit the latter to be mov- I able relatively to each other to pos tlons 01rcumferentially spaced about a common axis to assume a three dimensional coi'ifig'uration,

the said sections being movable from such positions to collapsed condition. y

2. A new article of manufacturefor use as a Christmas tree decoration or the'like comprising an ornament including a pinfor said sections, the said. surface sections rality of surface sections, connect-ing means being movable relatively to each other to positions cii'cumferentially spaced about a common axis to assume a three dimensional configuration and inaintainable in such positions by said connecting means, the said sections being movable to collapsed condition.

3. A pendant ornament including a plurality of surface sections, each section including a' lune portion of a sphere or the like, means connecting said sections, the said means comprising provisions connecting the sections at opposed portions of the same, the said surface sections being movable relatively to each other and positionable about a common axis including the said provisions, the surface sections being positionable about such axis to assume a three dimensional configuration and being movable from such positions to collapsed condition.

at. A new article of manufacture for use as a Christmas tree decoration or the like comprising an ornament including a plu.

rality of similar symmetrical surface sections, means pivotally connecting opposite ends of said sections, the said sections being pivotally movable into overlying relation to collapsed condition and from such collapsed condition to spaced positions to assume a three dimensional configuration, the said sections being movable about a common axis.

5. A new article of manufacture for use as a Christmas tree decoration or the like comprising an ornament including a plurality of surface sections, means connecting said sections to permit the latter to be movable relatively to each other to positions circumferentially spaced about a common axis to assume a three dimensional configuration, the said sections being movable from such positions to collapsed condition, said surface sections providing colored reflecting faces. i

6. A pendant ornament including a pinrality of surface sections, each section including a lune portion of a sphere or the like, means connecting said sections, the said means comprising provisions connecting the sections at opposed portions of the same, the said surface sections being movable relatively to each other and positionable about a common axis including the said provisions,

the surface sections being positionable about such axis to assume a three dimensional configuration and being movable from such positions to collapsed condition, said surface sections being made of flexible material and providing colored reflecting faces.

7 A pendant ornament including a plurality of surface sections, each section including a lune portion of a sphere or the like, means connecting said sections, the said means comprising provisions connecting the sections at opposed portions of the same, the

said surface sections being movable relatively to each other and positionable about a common axis including the said provisions, the surface sections being positionable about such axis to assume a three dimensional configuration and being movable from such positions to collapsed condition, the said surface sections providing different coloredv being movable from such positions to col lapsed condition, said surface sections including metallic foil. faces. I

9. A pendant ornament including a plurality of surface sections, each section including a lune portion. of a sphere or the like, means connecting said sections, the said means comprising provisions connecting the sections at opposed portions of the same, the said surface sections being movable relatively to each other and positionable about v a common axis including the said provisions, the surface sections being POS1tlOI12Lbl6'abO11t such axis to assume a three dimensional configurationand being movable from such positions to collapsed condition, the said sur face sections including metallic colored foil .faces, adjacent sections being differently colored to provide a variegated ornament display.

10. A new article of manufacture for use as a Christmas tree decoration or the like comprising an ornament including a plural-' ity of surface sections, each section 1nclud-. .inga lune portion of a three dimensional surface, connecting means for said sections; the said means comprising provisions connectmg the sections at opposite portions thereof, the said surface sections being po- 7 sitionable relatively to each other about a common axis to assume a threedimensional configuration and maintainable insuch positions by said connecting means, the said sections being movable to collapsed condition.-

11. A pendant ornament includinga plurality of separable surface sections, means connecting said sections, the said means including a suspending element threaded through opposed portions of the sections, the. said surface sections be ng movable relatively to each other circumferentially about the said connecting means to spaced positions to, assume a three dimensional configuration and being movable from such positions to collapsed condition.

12. A pendant ornament including a plurality of separable surface sections, meansv connecting said sections, the said means ineluding a suspending element threaded condition, the said surface sections being. through opposed portions of the sections, the made of flexible material faced With colored said surface sections being movable relametallic foil. 1 tively to each other about the said connect- Signed at New York city in the county of 5 ing means to spaced positions to assume a NHVYOI'k and State of New York this 31st three dimensional configuration and being day of December, A. D. 1921. movable from such positions to collapsed GERHARDT E. GRIMM. 

